Metal stamps and holder therefor



H. L. TOWERS METAL STAMPS AND HOLDER THEREFOR Oct. 13, 1959 Filed Dec. 10, 1956 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent METAL STAMPS AND HOLDER THEREFOR. Harold L. Towers, Cleveland, Ohio Application December 10, 1956, Serial No. 627,179

1 Claim. Cl. 276-44) This invention relates to improvements in metal stamps and holders therefor.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a stamp having an elongated configuration on one side thereof corresponding to the base of the character on the bottom end of the stamp, whereby the operator may determine how to hold the stamp in proper position without inspecting the character on the same.

Another object is the provision of a filing holder for a series or set of stamps, said holder having thereon indicia indicating the different characters in the set, the stamps and the holder having complemental tongue and groove configurations to insure the placing of the stamps in the holder in predetermined angular position.

Another object is the provision of a guiding holder for supporting a stamp in correct vertical position relative to the surface to be marked, having similar tongue and groove configurations for insuring the correct angular relation of the stamp, and having a bottom formation designed to properly cooperate with either a flat surface or a cylindrical surface to be stamped.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of that form of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application. I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a filing holder with stamps mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an individual stamp formed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a guide holder illustrating a feature of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a cylinder being stamped, with a guide holder and a stamp therein mounted upon the curved surface of the cylinder.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing there is illustrated a metal stamp made in accordance with the invention, the stamp being of the usual elongated bar type, in this instance generally square in cross-section with somewhat tapered upper and lower ends having fiat extremities, the flat upper extremity being designed to receive blows from a hammer and the flat lower extremity bearing the character to be impressed in a metal object to be stamped. The stamp 10 has a groove 11 therein on one side only, the groove running out at its ends into the tapered end portions of the stamp.

Fig. 1 illustrates a filing holder which may be convcniently constructed of sheet metal parts, the part 12 including an upper horizontal platform 13 and two inclined sides 14 with four feet 15 intended to rest upon a work bench or other support. In the platform 13 there are a series of openings 16 of form and dimensions to slidably receive the stamps 10. At the forward side of each opening 16 there is a tongue 17 which is adapted to be received by the groove 11 of one of the stamps. The interfitting conformations resulting from the tongue 17 and groove 11 require the placing of the stampsin predetermined angular relations with the grooved side of each stamp facing forward. The characters on the 2,908,505 Patented Oct. 13, 1959 bottom extremities of the stamps, one of which characters is shown at 18 in Fig. 2, are formed with their bases on the same sides as the grooves. Consequently when the stamps are placed in the holder 12 the characters all face in the same direction, preferably forward. Consequently when a workman grasps a stamp in his left hand, with his thumb on the grooved side, he holds the stamp in proper position for placing it on the work.

A second part of the holder 12 consists of a flat plate 19 secured to the sides 14 of the first part by any suitable means and having therein a series of holes 20 disposed beneath the openings 16, only one such hole being visible in Fig. l of the drawing and there being illustrated as being of such a size as to admit only a portion of the tapered ends of the stamps therethrough, thereby allowing the feet 15 to hold the characters 18 away from the surface of the work bench or other support. In order that the stamps shall be filed in the proper openings 16, so that they may be quickly selected, indicia 21 are marked on one side 14 of the holder. The characters on the various stamps therefore. all face forward and are all similarly arranged.

When a piece of Work is to be marked with a number, the stamps 10 are placed one at a time in a guide holder 25 the upper end of which is flat and may be said to be a platform. This guide holder is a block of metal with an opening 26 extending therethrough from top to bottom, of the same form and cross-sectional dimensions as the openings 16, and with a tongue 27 projecting into the opening from top to bottom thereof. The opening 26 slidably receives a stamp 10 with a fit close enough to prevent any appreciable wobble of the stamp in the holder, while permitting lengthwise movement of the stamp relative to the holder. The bottom surface of the guide block or holder 25 is so formed as to position the guide vertically with respect to a surface upon which it is placed. The bottom surface of the guide is such that it may be firmly carried upon a cylindrical surface as well as upon a fiat piece of work. This is accomplished by machining an inverted arcuate channel 28 from side to side of the holder, the radius of the channel selected being shorter than the radius of any cylinder to be marked. Preferably there is a second arcuate channel 29 machined in the guide at right angles to the channel 28. Thus there are provided four corner feet 30.

When flat work is to be marked these feet rest evenly upon such surface. When a cylindrical piece of work is to be marked, as indicated in Fig. 4, the corner feet 30 will engage the cylindrical surface, the channel 28 or 29, as the case may be, clearing the cylinder because the cylinder radius is greater than that of the arcuate channel.

In any case the forward face of the guide holder 25 may be used conveniently to follow a guide line on the work such as 31 of Fig. 4, in order that the digits of a number to be stamped may be disposed in a neat line.

It will be appreciated that while the stamp has been illustrated as grooved on one side to cooperate with the tongue on the holder, the reverse arrangement is equally effective, that is an elongated tongue may be formed on the stamp with a groove in the holder to receive it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

The combination with a stamp holder having a horizontal platform with openings therethrough of a shape and size corresponding to the cross-sectional dimensions of metal stamps to be mounted therein, said holder hearing marks opposite the several openings designating the characters on the respective stamps to he placed in said openings, each stamp having tapered ends and having a lengthwise groove in one side only, said platform having tongues extending into the respective openings, the groove in each stamp adapted'to'receive a tongue, the base of the character on each stamp being disposed in the same relation to hte grooved side of the stamp, said tongues and grooves permitting said stamps to. be placed in said holder in correct angular position only, 'theholder comprising also a horizontal plate spaced beneath the platform and having openings therein, and feet extending from said holder andadapted to support said holder on a supporting surface, said openings in said plate being of a size to admit only a portion of said tapered ends therethrough, thereby permitting said legs to hold said characters away from said supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this 'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 551,642 Kleine 'Dec. 17, 1895 

